To: Whitney Rosenbalm, Information Services
From: Sam Tinsley, M/S/BS

I attended the performance last night and was thoroughly impressed and entertained. The show was fantastic and I’m still humming the tunes. Congratulations to our great music, dance and theater departments for providing us such an excellent production. Please pass my congratulations and thanks along to the whole cast and crew.

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To: Leslie Wendling, Mark Murray, and Randy Jensen, Information Services
From: Jaime Chaney, Health Professions

Please extend my thanks to all three of you for your input and expertise (on my current project). I had a prospective student that I am working with come by today and she told me that her boss (they work at Chase) had been to our Health Professions web site and loved it. She said that the colors, content, links, information, etc. were excellent. Thought I’d just pass that feedback along.

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To: Emily Gray, Humanities
From: Sherry Dean, Humanities

Congratulations to you and your students on the performance of “Radio Show.” Morgan Hardage was especially memorable as Hercule Poirot – she had the French accent down perfectly. I also enjoyed reading the entertaining student bios.Emily, these students have blossomed under your solid teaching and mentoring. I was very proud for Richland College tonight.Thanks also to the production staff – Jennifer Owen, Dustina Reasons, your husband Matt, Andrew Van Horn, Justin Peachee, Jason Tamez, Juan Perez and Thomas Nanthavongdouangsy. Well done, everyone!

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To: Sherry Dean, Humanities
From: Lois Parrott, Humanities

You and your staff presented a beautiful and eloquent retirement reception in the Brazos Gallery for Gordon Young May 6. Tears came to my eyes as Gordon spoke, and I was touched by your kindness. I love this college and all of our wonderful friends and staff. We are truly blessed with our leadership. I am happy that we are able to celebrate events like this. The talent that is displayed at our college and in our Division is really outstanding. I sometimes “sit down and wonder” how it is possible to have so much in one place.

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To: Lt. Jason Pierce, College Police
From: Susan Wehe and Ann Moy, WLCC

Thank you, Lt. Pierce, for sending Sgt. Robert Benavidez and Corporal Cesar Sena to speak to our ESOL Learning Community class this semester. The students loved the visit and the chance to ask questions. They especially loved the chance to pose next to the Campus Police car.The two officers made a wonderful presentation and provided many interesting and useful pieces of information about what police officers do, how to get training, and what students can do to protect themselves on campus. Thank you for the opportunity to hear from these officers.

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To: June Cheatham, Humanities
From: Lois Parrott, Humanities

Thank you for all that you did for Gordon’s party. After I spoke with my friends today, I found out more about all those things that you had done that I seemed to not even be aware of for some reason or another.You did a beautiful job with the tea, decorations, flowers and that wonderful power point about Gordon Young’s life and career. I did not even realize that those flowers were from your yard and gardens. How outstanding. I am so glad that I found that out because that makes it even more special to me.Thank you for having this event for all of us in our division. You just did a fabulous job.

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To: Donte Hoover, Facilities
From: Celeste Hernandez, M/S/BS

Last Friday afternoon, Donte was replacing lightbulbs in Medina. I mentioned that I didn’t have a work order but that my light was flickering yet one more time. He had changed out the bulb two to three times just since December. This time, Donte changed the ballast, and WOW! The light doesn’t flicker anymore.This is wonderful service, especially on a Friday afternoon. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much, Donte!

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To: Anitra Cotton, Jenni Gilmer, Randy Jensen, John Pollock and Whitney Rosenbalm, Information Services
From: Steve Mittelstet, Administration

Congratulations on so effectively demonstrating the T-Value of Cooperation (not to mention several others) with the superb team effort leading to the on-going fresh approach to inviting our Richland community to start our days inspired to do our best work toward student success in the context of our student-employee developed organizational ThunderValues. Please pass along my gratitude to everyone involved in this on-going cycle-of-improvement Richland success story. Thanks, Thunderducks!

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Letters

Dear Dr. (Steve) Mittelstet,

The purpose of this letter is to let you know the Garland High School appreciates the time and effort given by Luz Villegas to introduce our Achievement Academy Seniors to the possibilities for higher education at Richland College and beyond. The experience proved invaluable in spawning enthusiasm amongst our students. Some of our students have difficulty believing that a higher education is possible or necessary. After the program, some of our kids were dreaming of bigger and better lives for themselves. It is nice to know that Richland College continues to play a vital role in the creation of opportunity for people from all backgrounds and circumstances. Thank you for your continued investment in our community by creating programs that help people dream of better lives, and by helping them to reach that dream.

Sincerely,

John Morris,
Gilbert Duran
At-Risk Administrator

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Dear Debbi (Richards),

I want to thank you again and again for all you did for our intern class. You are truly a conference-organizer extraordinaire! Richland College sets the bar for excellence and innovation. The presenters were incredible. Each of them had suck great experience and were willing to give up their time to share with us. Thanks to David, Sandy and Theresa for all the love and attention they gave us.

I learned more than I expected and have returned home with so many things I want to do to position our Foundation for greater success. My challenge will be setting priorities and measuring the amount of change I can introduce at a time. Thank you for the Burton Talmadge Scholarship. Our budget is so meager, it meant a lot to our college.

You will mostly be remembered by us as “Mother Duck” not because of your Thunderduck heritage, but by the way you cared for each of us and looked after our needs.

Warm Regards,

Dennis L. O’Neill
Director of Foundation
Umpqua Community College

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Hello John (Carmichael),

I had the pleasure of attending a Career Counseling course you taught back in the early 90s at Richland College and saw the news paper article about you on March 9. I believe I saw you on TV as well, in the past…You gave me good advise back then, some 15 years ago. To do something I enjoy, continue my education and at the same time look for a career in areas that have a sustainable future. Occupational Therapy was one idea. I finally chose Property/Building Management and today, at 50 years of age, I work for one of the leading Architectural Design firms in the state.

Thanks again for your guidance and the human touch approach you take to teaching.

Respectfully,

John Schneider

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Dear Steve (Mittelstet),

Richland College has reaped many richly deserved accolades in the last few years, and now I would like to add one more. Minor though it might be, its impact will ripple through institutions across the country for years to come. So congratulations for hosting probably the most successful CRD Resource Development Specialist Training…ever!

I can’t help but think that your mascot, R Mobius Thunderduck, says it all. There’s a culture a Richland which each your employees embodies: the incalculable value of the mind-body-spirit in human development. Debbi Richards and David Canine, the coaches for CRD’ s “Snowducks,” infused that principle into every moment of intern training.

Thank you, Steve, for sharing your staff and your credo with CRD.

Sincerely,
Polly Binns, CFRE
Executive Director

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Dear Dr. (Steve) Mittelstet,

Thank you for your congratulatory message on my section to the prestigious All-USA Academic First Team. This achievement is not simply a result of my own endeavors, but instead a strong combination of the support and guidance received from Richland College faculty, staff and fellow student. I am extremely grateful to you and the entire college for providing an environment and the resources necessary to pursue excellence in scholarship, leadership and community service. I believe that I am a leaf of success, a growth from a powerful tree of Teaching, Learning and Community Building here at Richland College. The root that support this tree are the administration, faculty and staff including a special mention to the following.

I am truly proud to represent Richland College as one of the top twenty national students in the All-USA Academic First Team and will build on this foundation as I continue my pursuit of lifelong learning and service to my community.

Yours sincerely,
Dharmesh K. Patel

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Dear Steve Mittelstet, Kay Eggleston, Jean Conway, Fonda Vera, Donna Walker, Finney Varghese, Eddie Hueston, Mary Darin, Zarina Blankenbaker, Greg Thomas and Roy Bond,

Heartfelt thanks from all of us Longhorns to you and your hard charging Thunderducks for such terrific learning experience you provided our 63rd CCLP cohort. They came away much impressed with the quality and direction of leadership in which you and the team have the college headed. They loved their time with you, especially Sunday afternoon.

Steve, we will look forward to staying in touch and to continuing our good work together in these community college vineyards. All of you Richland point the way for all the rest. With every good wish…

Sincerely,

John E. Roueche
Professor and Director, Community College Leadership Program
The University of Texas at Austin

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To Kay Coder,

I wanted to thank you for the excellent class you gave us on Diversity Training on the 16th of April here at the City of Plano. It was much different than I had expected it would be. I suppose that I felt no one could teach this old goat anything regarding other cultures. I’ve been all over the world and have seen examples of literally everything you discussed and it brought back memories, but I was still able to learn from your class and I think that your class will help me to do my job better.

I wish every City of Plano employee could take your class. I think that you said that there were six or eight more sessions that you teach. I really appreciated your first session that you taught to us. Thank you so much for your time and effort in making us better City of Plano employees.

Ron Underwood, ASLA
Landscape Architect, City of Plano

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To Sherry Dean,

I am a DCCCD student and took Government 2301 and 2302 here at Richland. I have never had an interest in politics or our government in general, but I was so impressed with Lehman Marks‘ teaching methods that I ended up taking both of his courses.

Mr. Marks always finds a way to make the course interesting and worthwhile, and I never dreaded going to his class. I appreciate the opportunity to take courses with Mr. Marks. I want you to know what a great teacher you have on your staff. I’ve never seen students more willing to work in groups.

Please let him know how much his students really do appreciate his efforts to teach with such passion and knowledge and that we really do learn as opposed to memorization.

Respectfully,

Taleen Ketron

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Hello (Bill Matter),

I took your 1302 class in spring of 1996. I wanted to tell you that you are the best professor I ever had and you changed my life! Witnessing your teaching style inspired me to become a teacher myself. I’ve been an elementary school teacher for the last 8 years in grades Pre-K, 4th and 5th. Thank you so much for all that you do!

Joy Francis

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Dear Dr. (Ray) Canham,

I am writing to give my highest accolades to a very deserving professor in the Department of Math and Science. This semester (Spring 2008) I had the opportunity to learn from one of the most effective and interesting instructors I have had in my academic history (a long history which includes a Master’s Degree). This unique instructor, Ms. Jackie Reynolds, is a true asset to the department and an example for professors everywhere.

Importantly, Ms. Reynolds is passionate about her subject matter. She truly enjoys talking about bacteria, fungi, worms, bioterrorism, healthcare, and a myriad of related microbial topics. Her enthusiasm in contagious and makes students want to learn. It is easy to remember her lectures and facts presented because she puts a lot of effort into making them applicable, lively, and current.

It is obvious that Ms. Reynolds truly cares about the success of her students. Most of us, including my self, are aspiring healthcare workers. She constantly provides us with information that will help us get accepted to healthcare programs, information that helps us pass entrance exams, and interesting news about various healthcare trends and professions. I truly believe that, had it not been for Ms. Reynolds’ teaching, I would not have done well on my nursing school entrance exams. I am proud to say that I have since been accepted to two nursing schools!

Finally, Ms. Reynolds is a challenging and fair professor. It is well know among students that Ms. Reynolds has high expectations and she delves deep into the subject matter. Nonetheless, students still want to take her classes because we also know that we will actually LEARN the material. She is very clear as to her expectations of us and she sticks to the curriculum and her promise to follow the syllabus, return our grades in a prompt manner, and let us know learning objectives ahead of time. There are neither surprises nor disappointments with Ms. Reynolds.

It is my sincere hope that Ms. Reynolds receives the recognition and appreciation which she so deserves. She has been a true asset to my educational experience at Richland College.

Thank you,

Angela McCaskill